Japan's Backroom Politics
Factions in a Multiparty Age- Authors:
- Publisher:
- 2013
Summary
Japan’s Backroom Politics is the translation of a classic study of the rough and tumble of Japanese politics and conservative party factions in the first two decades of postwar Japan. The original book, published in 1967, was written by the preeminent political writer at the time, Watanabe Tsuneo, who later became the controversial owner of the Yomiuri Shimbun. The book was written when a generational change was occurring in Japanese politics after several of the early party leaders had passed away, including his political mentor, Ono Bamboku. Comprising ten chapters, including a comprehensive preface on the author, Japan’s Backroom Politics discusses in great detail the history of and personalities within the near-dozen factions and sub-factions that existed at the time. He introduces the resiliency of factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, noting the role of money, influence, party presidency, and the chance at the premiership, among other factors, which subsequent commentators and scholars have elaborated on. Moreover, using extensive data and a penetrating analysis, Watanabe provides a historical as well as an international comparison of Japanese factions, making predictions about the future of Japanese politics.
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Bibliographic data
- Copyright year
- 2013
- ISBN-Print
- 978-0-7391-7389-3
- ISBN-Online
- 978-0-7391-7390-9
- Publisher
- Lexington, Lanham
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 282
- Product type
- Book Titles
Table of contents
- Contents No access
- List of Figures No access
- Translator’s Preface No access Pages 1 - 60
- Introduction. The Defeated One: The Decline of Party Politicians No access Pages 61 - 70
- Chapter 1. The Backroom: Testimonies of Party Leadership Elections No access Pages 71 - 116
- Chapter 2. Popularity: Leadership and the People No access Pages 117 - 136
- Chapter 3. Money: The Basis for Politics No access Pages 137 - 148
- Chapter 4. Factions, Part 1: Steps to an Administration No access Pages 149 - 162
- Chapter 5. Factions, Part 2: The Backgrounds of Leaders No access Pages 163 - 224
- Chapter 6. Multiparty Age: Undercurrents of the 1967 Elections No access Pages 225 - 238
- Chapter 7. The Myth of a Two-Party System: Recommendations for a Multiparty System No access Pages 239 - 250
- Chapter 8. The End of Backroom Politics: Administrations in a Multiparty Age No access Pages 251 - 268
- Afterword No access Pages 269 - 272
- Index No access Pages 273 - 280
- About the Translator No access Pages 281 - 282





